erin mcpike is in wichita where it's still coming down very hard there, isn't it, erin. >> reporter: yes, it sure is. right behind me we just saw a snow plow go by for the third time in the past hour but the road is already covered again. we also have a handy ruler to check throughout the day. it's 4 inches now and two hours ago there was nothing. so it is about 2 inches an hour and we'll see a lot more throughout the day. 9 inches at least, maybe up to 18. it's going to be a little higher in topeka where they're expecting 17 or 18 inches. as you mentioned, the governor, sam brownback, has shut down most of the state today. he's saying if you want to play in the snow, basically go nuts, but stay off the roads because the roads are pretty bad here. now, we have heard that farmers are welcoming this storm because it's been a drought for a couple of years here, so, you know, we want to see some heavy snow to help ease those drought conditions. >> and that is the silver lining if there is one, erin mcpike, you're absolutely right. you can play, get out of school today. this storm system